The Eagles’ 2026 season has turned into a nightmare in more ways than one. Injuries have battered the roster, but that’s only part of the story. A few offseason calls are already looking like the kind that come back to bite a team fast.
Start with Jonathan Greenard. Philadelphia traded for him in April and then handed him a four-year, $98 million extension right away.
So far, that move has gone nowhere near the way the Eagles hoped. Greenard has played in four games, and his stat line is thin: one tackle, one QB hit and one forced fumble.
For a player making that kind of money, it’s been a rough return.
To be fair, the defense as a whole has been fighting uphill all season, so Greenard isn’t the only issue. But the Eagles clearly expected more when they made the deal, and right now it looks like a case of buyer’s remorse.
Then there’s Nakobe Dean, who is thriving somewhere else. Now with the Las Vegas Raiders, Dean has put together a strong first season there. CBS Sports summed up his recent stretch this way: "Dean is in the midst of a standout season, as he's recorded double-digit stops in four of his past five games and is tied for third in the NFL with 68 tackles through seven contests."
That kind of production is exactly what Philadelphia is missing. The Eagles’ linebackers have been inconsistent all year, and Dean’s departure stands out even more because he was a player the team drafted and developed before letting him walk.
The third decision sits in the draft. With plenty of needs on the board in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Eagles chose tight end Eli Stowers out of Vanderbilt.
That pick hasn’t paid off yet. Stowers has appeared in only one game and hasn’t caught a pass.
Maybe that changes down the line. Maybe he becomes the answer behind Dallas Goedert. But with so many holes on the roster, it’s hard not to look at that second-round choice and wonder if Philadelphia could have used it somewhere else.
In Other News...
Eagles Are Flirting With Another Costly Saquon Barkley Decision
Saquon Barkleys season has already been a stop-and-start one, with injuries piling up and the Eagles trying to manage his workload as the games keep coming. He was back at practice Friday after sitting out the first two sessions of the week, and the expectation is that he will be available for the next game, which only sharpens the attention on how carefully Philadelphia is handling him.
The concern around Barkley is bigger than one practice report because the Eagles are still dealing with the fallout from Jalen Hurts season-ending blood clot situation. Hurts initially had what seemed like a minor issue before it worsened after he kept playing and traveling, and now there is a real unease that Philadelphia could be drifting into the same kind of risk with another key player if it does not get the balance right. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Send A Clear Message About Their Depth Before Commanders Game
The Eagles added some extra insurance for their Week 8 matchup with Washington by elevating running back Elijah Mitchell and edge rusher Mason Reiger from the practice squad. Mitchells move comes with some familiarity, since it is his second temporary elevation of the season, while Reiger is in line to make his Eagles debut as Philadelphia continues to manage the edges of its roster heading into a divisional game.
Philadelphia also left tight end Zach Ertz and cornerback Jakorian Bennett on injured reserve ahead of the Commanders game, keeping those spots unchanged for now. The decisions underscore how the Eagles are piecing together depth on the fly, with the practice squad again serving as a short-term solution as the team prepares for a key NFC East test. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Face A Brutal Sunday Night Test They Desperately Need
Sunday night brings a tricky divisional measuring stick for the Eagles, who head into their matchup with Washington dealing with plenty of outside skepticism and a fair amount of uncertainty of their own. The buildup has centered on recent form, injuries and how both teams stack up right now, with analysts split on which side has the edge and plenty of attention on whether Philadelphia can steady itself in a game that could say a lot about where this season is headed.
Washingtons injury situation adds another layer to the matchup, even if the conversation around the game has mostly focused on how the Eagles respond under the lights. Philadelphia is staring at a test it badly needs, not just for the standings but for the tone it sets going forward, and the fact that so many predictions are still up in the air only underscores how much is riding on this one. [Read more 🡒]